Container



Nov. 12, 1929. c, LENFANT 1,735,324

CONTAINER Original Filed Feb. 5, 1926 3vwen toz Patented Nov. 12, 1929PATENT OFFICE CHARLES LENFAN1, or NW YORK, i\. Y.

CONTAINER Application filed February 5, 1926, Serial No. 86,130. Renewedul2, 1928.

This invention relates to containers, and has for its primary object toprovide a case orcontainer for cigarettes, cigars and other commoditiesWhich may be simply and inexpensively constructed, and Will beconvenient and serviceable in practical use.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a containerhaving an article holder enclosed within two similar case sectionshingedly connected at one of their ends for relative mOve1nent and topro- Ivide means constituting a connection between the article holderand the casesections and Which also acts toyieldingly urge the casesections to closed positions. Also, in one embodimeht of the invention,I may provide an additionztl flexible conncction between the casesections and the article holder to positively limit the openingmovementof the case sections.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved container and in the form, construction and relativearrangement of its several parts as ma be' hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying draWins, and

subsequently incorporated in the su joined claims. In the drawings,wherein I have illustrated one simple and praetie;fl em bo d1ment of theinvention, and in Which snn1lar reference characters designatecorrespondmg parts throughout the several views,

Fi u 1 is aperspect1ve view showing the 235 improved case or containerclosed;

Fig. 2 is a siniilar vievv, the case being open,

' n n Fig. 3 is an,enlarged longitudinal section of the case with theparts 1n open position. Referring in detail to the drawmgs, I;pro videan article holder 5 which may be oi: any desired capacity. As shown, this l iolder 1s adapted to receive a package oi cigarettes and at one ofits ends is enurely open s0 that the individual cigarettes can bereadfly withdrawn. At this open endof the holder, the side walls thereofare ont away as 1nd1 cated at 6 to afford more convenient acCess to thecontents of the holder.

The article holder 5 is enclosed w1tlnn two rounded or 'convex ends 8.lower end wall 8 of each case section and dissiniilar case sections 7.These case sections as vvell as the holder 5 may be convenientl stampedor iormed from sheet metal. The

sections 7 are preferably provided with the Adj acent the posed inspaced parallel relationthereto a metal plate 9 is positioned betweenand suitablyfixed to the side walls o:E the case sections. These sidewalls of the case sections are positioned in a common plane so that whenclosed the edges of said Walls at the open sides of the case Sectionsare in contact with 'each othen The corresponding ends of theicetalplates 9 are connected by a suitdirections asindicated at 11.

, The bottom wall 12 of the article holder 5 "arms ,of this clip 13normally tend to assume a position in parallel relation to each otherand urge the case sections 7 to the closed position shown in'Fig.1 ofthe dr1wings. If desired, "the case sections 8 at their other or npperends niay ,be provided With any convenient latchmeans shown at 15 toretain said sections in closed positions.

YVhile not an essential element of mypresent improvementS, I may alsoprovide a flexible strap 1Gextending over the bottom wall 12 of theholder 5 and throgh openin'gs at the ends thereofand suitably attach orcon nect the eatremities of said strap as at 17 to the lower Corners ofthe respect ve case sections 7. Thus,the length of the portions of thisflexible strap 'extending betWeen the attached end 17 at the cornersofthe case sectiens and the lower corners of the holder 5 Will determinethe permissible eXtent of relative opening movement of the casesections, thus avoiding excessive bending strain upon the spring clip13.

From the above description, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of thedevice Will be readily nnderstood. When it is desired to obtain accessto the contents of the holder 5, the lower end portions of the two casesections 7 are grasped and swung in relatively opposite directions, such1nove ment of the case sections being yieldingly resistecl by the armsof the clip 13. Owing to the location of the hinge 10 and the provisionof the inclined edges 11 on the lower ends or the case sections, thisrelative pivotal movement of the tWo sections is permitted notwithstanding the fact that the end walls of the case sections are ofrounded or convers form. Thus, the cigarettes or other contents of theholder 5 Will be exposed at the open end of the holder between thespaced ends of the case sections 7 so that the cigarettes may be readilywithdrawn loy the persons to whom they may be presented. Also, the user7 may readily open the case by .moving one section thereof relative tothe other With one hand while the other hand is used to Withdraw thecigarettes. Immediately upon the release of the case sections, thespring clip 13 Will return the saine to closed position. It Will thns beseen that this clip subserves the double pnrpose of retaining thearticle holder in proper position between the case sections and also foryielclingly urging said case sections to closed positions over the openend of said holder. Therefore, 0Wing to the very simple form andconstruction of the several parts of the device, it Will be apparentthat the same can be manufactured and sold at comparatively small cost.

VVhile I have herein shown one desirable embodiment of my presentimprovements, it Will nevertheless be understood that the essentialfeatures thereof might also be incorporated in various other alternativestructures, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all suchlegitimate changes ther in as may be fairly embodied within the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed.

I daim:

l. A container comprisii1g an article holder, an enclosing case thereforcompris- .ing tWo sections, a transverse hinge connecti ng said sectionsin spaced relation to the bottom end Walls thereof, and means extending-throrwh the article holder and embracin the b b .lnnge, sa1d ineansalso engagmg the bottom end Walls of the case sections to urge the saidcase sections intoclosed position about the article holder.

2. A container comprising an article holcler, an enclosing case thereforcompris-' mg two sections, a transverse h1nge connect- ,ingsaid sectionsin spaced relation to the bottom walls thereof, a resilient memberextending through the bottom wall et the article holder and straddlingthe hinge and arme on the resilient member engaging the outer sides ofthe bottom walls of the enclosing sections for yieldably nrging saidsections into closed position about the article holder.

3. A container of the character described comprising an article holder,an enclosing case thereior consisting of two sections havingcorresponding side and end walls positioned in the same plane for edgeto edge contact when the case is closed, the end walls of said casesections being rounded or conve:, a transVersehinge connection betweensaid case sections in spaced relation to the bottom end Walls thereof, amember extending through the bottom Wall of the article holder embracingthe hinge connection and engagecl with said bottom end WallS 01" thecase sec tions whereby said article holder is connected with said casesections, and means limiting the relative opening movement of the casesections.

4. A container 0l: the character described comprising an article holder,an enclosing case theretor consisting ct two sections having rounded orconven end walls, plates fixed between the side walls or each casesection in spaced relation to the bottom end Wall thereof and hingedlyconnected with each other at the edges or" said side walls,said edges ofthe side walls of the case sections being obliquely inclined in oppositedirections from said plates to the bottom walls or the case sections topermit of the relative pivotal mvement of the case sections, and meansengaged with the bottom wall of the article holder and yieldinglycoacting with the bottom wall of the case section to retain said holderand the case sectionsin assembled relation.

5. A container of the character described comprising an article holder,an enclosing case theretor consisting of two sections having rounded orconvex end walls, plates fixecl between the side walls of each casesection in spaced relation to the bottom end Wall thereof and hingedlconnected With each other at the edges et said side walls, said edges ofthe side walls et the case sections oeing obliquely inclined in oppositedirections tronc said plates to the bottom walls of the case sections t0permit of the relative pivotal movement of the case sections, aresilient metal clip engaged through the bottom wall o:E the articleholder having spzced arme embracing said hinge and ei1gaged withrespective bottom walls of the case sections to yieldingly urge saidcase sections to closed position and retain the article holder inassembled relation with said case sections.

6. A container of the character described comprising an article holder,an enclosing case theretor consisting of two sections having ronndedorconvex end walls, plates fixed be- A tween the side walls of each casesection in spaced relation to the bottom end wall thereof and hingedlyconnected with each other at the edges of said side walls, said edges ofthe side walls of thecase sections being obliquely inclined in oppositedirections from said plates to the bottom Walls of the case sections topermit of the relative pivotal movement of the case sections, aresilient metal clip engaged throngh the bottom wall of the articleholder having spaced arms embracing said hinge and engaged Withrespective bottom walls of the case sections to yieldingly urge saidcase sections to closed position and retain the article holder inassembled relation With said case sections, and additional means forpositively limiting the relative opening movement of the case sectionswith respect to the article holder.

7. A container comprising an article holder, an enclosing case thereforconsisting of two sections having ahinge connection between said casesections in spaced relation to the bottom walls thereof, and a memberextendingthrongh the bottom wall of the article holder embracing thehinge cohnection and engaged with said bottom walls of the case sectionswhereby said article holder is connected with said case sections.

8. A container comprising an article holder,

an enclosing case therefor, consisting of two sections adapted to closeabout said holder, a transverse hinge uniting said sections et a pointadjoining the bottom of said holder, a

resilient clip fixed in the bottom of the holder and having a pair ofarms passing astride said hinge and throngh said sections andrespectively tensioned directly npon said sections whereby t0 cause saidsections to assume a closed position about said holder.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto.

CHARLES LENFANT.

